Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Will drones transform farmers' lives in
Thailand?
Agriculture is the key industry in Thailand,
both for economy and elections. It represents 8.5% of the national GDP and
one-third of the workforce. No wonder some politicians try to buy votes by pledging
support for farmers by government subsidies and tax incentives, especially to
rice farmers. Indeed, rice production represents about 13% of all farm
production and nearly 40% of Thai’s farmers, or 16 million.
Rice farming is both water and labor-intensive especially in Thailand where farmers can harvest three rice crops a
year, thanks to the tropical climate and abundant water. But to get three crops
a year, those rice farmers have to work hard year-round. One of the labor-intensive
jobs is to spray fields with pesticides and fertilizers. Farmers carry a tank
full of pesticides, walk around the rice paddies spraying the harmful chemical substance
all day long.
Now drones can do this much more efficiently from
the air. They can cover much larger space without break but with just battery
charges. All those farmers have to is to program the area by their smartphones,
fill the tank with pesticide, and charge the battery. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it?
The question is if they can afford it.
Enjoy reading the article and learn what can
drone do in help rice farmers.
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